Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi/Imphal, Oct 21: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday criticised the BJP government over the continuing violence in Manipur, saying the state deserves justice, dignity, constitutional rights and lasting peace.

Accusing the BJP of incompetence, Kharge said Manipur was bleeding again following the latest spate of violence, in which four civilians were killed.

“The horrific killing of four innocent civilians in the latest spate of violence is deeply condemnable. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” the Congress president said in a post on X.

Kharge noted that more than 300 people had lost their lives since violence erupted in May 2023, while 24,530 people continued to live in relief camps under pathetic conditions.

“Women, children and vulnerable families continue to bear the brunt of this prolonged tragedy. The BJP’s political machinations, from imposing President’s Rule to replacing the Chief Minister and reinstalling its own government, have yielded no peace,” he said.

He further criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur for nearly 29 months after the violence began, alleging that he had failed to fulfil his assurance made in Parliament.

The Congress president said the continuing bloodshed in the strategically important border state was a serious indictment of the BJP government’s failure to maintain law and order, protect constitutional rights and safeguard national security.

Kharge posed three sets of questions to Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking accountability for the continuing violence and displacement.

“What happened to the Peace Committee constituted by Amit Shah in June 2023? What concrete measures have been taken to restore peace, protect citizens and address the continuing security challenges in this sensitive border state?” he asked.

He also sought details of the action taken on the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Gita Mittal Committee.

“Why are thousands of people still displaced, even as the Supreme Court has flagged 31 unnatural deaths in relief camps? What has been done to ensure the safety, dignity and rehabilitation of women, children and displaced families?” Kharge asked.

Pointing to more than three years of violence, over 300 deaths, the imposition of President’s Rule and a change of Chief Minister, he questioned who would take responsibility for what he described as a monumental failure of governance.

“How many more innocent lives must be lost before the Prime Minister and Home Minister act?” he asked.

“As a strategically important border state, its security and stability cannot be held hostage to the BJP’s political expediency,” Kharge said.

Meanwhile, Manipur Police said suspected armed militants opened fire on a group of around 14 villagers who had gone to collect firewood at Khongbal Tangkhul, under Sagolmang police station in Kangpokpi district, on October 19.

Three villagers belonging to the Meitei community succumbed to bullet injuries, while four others were injured in the firing.

In a separate incident on October 18, one person was killed and several others injured in clashes between members of two communities in Thoubal district. The authorities subsequently imposed prohibitory orders in two affected areas.

Following the fresh violence in Kangpokpi district, Manipur Police, in coordination with central security forces, intensified joint search and intelligence-based operations, leading to the arrest of three suspected militants.

Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order/Intelligence, Lhari Dorje, said preliminary investigations indicated that two of the three arrested persons had reportedly admitted to being part of the assault team. Further investigations are underway to identify other persons involved in the October 19 incident.

Based on disclosures by the arrested accused, police recovered 12 firearms and 1,095 live rounds of various weapons from mountainous areas, Dorje told the media.

The recovered arms and ammunition included an INSAS rifle, an M16 rifle, an A1 rifle, an AK-47-type rifle, a 7.62 mm sniper rifle, a Heckler and Koch 5.56 mm rifle, three 12-bore single-barrel guns, a lethod gun and a handmade rocket launcher, among other weapons.